The SD-1 Super OverDrive pedal produces the warm, natural distortion of an overdriven tube amplifier while maintaining the subtle nuances of a player’s picking technique. This is one of BOSS’ more subtle and smooth overdrive pedals, perfect for blues and rock.
The Clipping Circuit That Defined “Overdrive” In 1977, BOSS created an entirely new stompbox category with the OD-1, bringing natural overdrive in pedal form to guitarists for the very first time. Producing a signal rich in even-order harmonics, its unique asymmetric clipping circuit replicated the pleasing sound and feel of a driven tube amp—but at controllable volume levels. Four years later, this breakthrough design evolved into the more versatile SD-1, which added an active tone control for shaping the treble response and subtle enhancements for more low-end body.
Overdrive Perfection The SD-1 allows players from beginner to pro to get inspiring sounds right away, thanks to its natural behavior and the subtle mid boost that’s part of its design. It gives your tone a push where it matters most, ensuring your guitar always sits perfectly in the mix with warmth, clarity, and rich presence. Lower drive settings are great for rhythm parts, while higher settings are ideal for fat, singing leads. The SD-1 is also very sensitive to input gain, letting you dial in different shades of overdrive simply by adjusting your guitar’s volume control.
The One Pedal Every Player Needs With its organic character and responsive drive and tone controls, the SD-1 delivers the right sound for just about any style of music. Kick on the pedal with your favorite clean or slightly driven amp for mild-to-moderate overdrive that’s ideal for everything from classic rock and gritty blues to pop, country, jazz, and beyond. The SD-1 also shines as a booster for high-gain amps and other drive pedals, providing mid focus, tight bass, and smooth top end that’s perfectly suited for heavier sounds and solo playing.
Features
Compact overdrive pedal with warm, smooth overdriven sounds
Unique asymmetric overdrive circuitry for a classic, natural tube amp growl
Tone control provides precise adjustment of drive sound
BOSS five-year warranty
Specs
Nominal Input Level: -20 dBu
Input Impedance: 1 M ohm
Nominal Output Level: -20 dBu
Output Impedance: 1 k ohm
Recommended Load Impedance: 10 k ohms or greater
Bypass: Buffered bypass
Controls
DRIVE knob TONE knob LEVEL knob Pedal switch
Indicator: CHECK indicator (Used for indication of check battery)
Power Supply: Carbon-zinc battery (9 V, 6F22) or Alkaline battery (9 V, 6LR61) AC adaptor (PSA series: sold separately)
Current Draw: 10 mA
Expected battery life under continuous use
Carbon: Approx. 60 hours Alkaline: Approx. 90 hours *These figures will vary depending on the actual conditions of use.
SIZE AND WEIGHT
Width: 73 mm / 2-7/8 inches
Depth: 129 mm / 5-1/8 inches
Height: 59 mm / 2-3/8 inches
Weight (including battery): 360 g/13 oz*
0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms
*The specifications are subject to change without notice.
